Caserta, Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi

 

CCI held its first overnight trip of the year last week, when we toured the region of Campania.

Campania is only three hours away by bus, and we made the most of it by visiting Caserta, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Amalfi. Needless to say, we were busy!

Our first stop was the Palace of Caserta. The palace was built in the 18^th century for the Bourbon kings. The building’s architecture was inspired by the Palace of Versailles, and by volume, is the largest royal residence in the world.

After our tour, we had time to explore the incredible 120-hectare park behind the palace. In my opinion, the park is the real reason to come to Caserta.

Our afternoon was spent in Pompeii to see the ruins and learn about the ancient Roman way of life. Pompeii was buried in ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. It wasn’t until the mid 1700s (the same time as the construction of the Royal Palace), that excavations of the site began. The buildings are well persevered due to the lack of oxygen after being buried, and it’s still possible to see the original frescos that covered the walls of shops and in people’s homes.

We then made our way to our hotel in Sorrento where we had dinner together that evening. Students were then given time to explore the city at night.

We were up early the next morning for a boat tour along the coast and to Amalfi for tours of the cathedral, paper mill, and nearby Ravello.

Overall, I have to say it was a highly enjoyable trip, and it has only made me more excited for our November trip to Florence!